Where does “telegramese” come from?
telegramese (English) comes from English telegram, from English -gram, from Ancient Greek γράμμα, from Ancient Greek γράφω, from Proto-Hellenic grəpʰō, from Proto-Indo-European gerbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
telegramese (English): The terse, abbreviated writing style used in...
Definitions
- The terse, abbreviated writing style used in...
Ancestry of “telegramese”, step by step
telegramese traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English telegram
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | telegram | A message transmitted by telegraph; To send a... |
| 2 | English | -gram | Something written, drawn or otherwise recorded |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | γράμμα | that which is written, that which is drawn,... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | γράφω | to scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | grəpʰō | to scratch, cut or carve into |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gerbʰ- | to carve |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |